Laputa Returns

Chapter 3

(A/N: Sorry this took so long. I've had a bit of a writer's block. Don't you hate those? They're such a pain.)

Disclaimer: I own nothing

Chapter 3: Under Attack

The alarm going off woke Pazu and Sheeta from their slumber. A red light flashed simultaneously with the loud alarm.

"What's this?" Pazu muttered sleepily. "The wake up call?"

Sheeta was more awake and alert. "I don't think so."

"Calling all crew! Calling all crew!" came Avalon's voice over the intercom. "This is a code five! We have enemy ships coming in!"

"Enemy ships?" gasped Pazu and Sheeta.

"Report to your posts at once! This is not a drill! I repeat, this is not a drill!"

Pazu and Sheeta hurried out of the room. Janus raced by them as he hurried to his post.

"Hey, what's going on?" asked Pazu.

Janus skidded to a halt and turned to him. "What are you, deaf? Didn't you hear the captain? We're under attack!"

He took off again, leaving Pazu and Sheeta alone. They shared a look before hurrying to the control room. Avalon was barking orders at everyone, screaming into the intercom as the crew ran about performing their duties.

"Avalon, what's going on?" asked Pazu.

Avalon turned to him. "We're coming up on Smuggler's Paradise, but apparently, another ship decided to attack us."

"What for?" asked Sheeta.

The ship shook as the enemy fired at them. Avalon grabbed onto the captain's chair to steady herself. "In case we have any treasure."

"It's common around here." Ray explained. "Sometimes when ships come in, they'll be attacked and raided. We were careless coming in, that's why we're being attacked."

"Just hold onto sometime!" Avalon ordered, grabbing the intercom. "Boris, Kouji, ready at the guns?"

"Left gunman, standing by!" came Boris' voice.

"Right gunman, standing by!" came Kouji's voice.

"Fire at will!"

Gunfire shot out of the guns on the left and right side of the Wind Rider.

"What are they shooting at?" asked Pazu.

"Those!" Ray cried. A small ship, made for one person, flew by. "We count four, plus the main ship."

"Make that three." Came Kouji's voice. "I just took one down."

"Well done, but don't celebrate yet." Said Avalon.

"This has to be illegal!" cried Pazu.

Ray gave him a weird look. "You really have no clue what Smuggler's Paradise is, do you?" He sighed. "Everyone here lives outside the law. That's why it's called Smuggler's Paradise."

"Another one down!" cried Boris.

"Two down, plus the main ship." Avalon muttered. "Keep your eyes open, they're probably in the clouds."

"Roger."

The two remaining ships flew around the Wing Rider, firing at random, looking for areas of weakness. At one moment, a shower of bullets went across the window. The bullets passed through, but the glass was specially made, and didn't shatter when shot. Pazu grabbed Sheeta and pulled her to the floor as the bullets flew over their heads.